Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The number of attacks and casualties went up a bit in Iraq in
the fourth week of December 2014. That was due to an increase in fighting in
Anbar and the discovery of a mass grave in Diyala. On the other hand the Iraqi
Security Forces (ISF), militias and tribes made major advances in the Balad
district of southern Salahaddin. Overall, violence remains relatively low
compared to the summer when the insurgents were on the offensive.

From December 22-28 there were a reported 160 attacks in
Iraq. That was up from 133 the previous week. Security incidents went from an
average of 19.0 per day to 22.8. The main cause for the increase was Anbar
where attacks went from 19 to 38 in the last two weeks. Baghdad led the week
with 46 incidents, followed by 34 in Salahaddin, 32 in Anbar, 18 in Ninewa, 13
in Diyala, 8 in Babil, six in Kirkuk, three in Basra, and one in Qadisiyah.
Attacks are down from the first half of the year when there were regularly more
than 200 incidents per week.

Casualties were also up for the 4th week of
December. There were 558 deaths and 432 wounded up from 377 killed and 340
injured the third week of the month. The dead consisted of 40 members of the
Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), 45 Sahwa, 17 peshmerga, and 2 members of the
Syrian YPG, and 454 civilians, while the injured were 72 ISF, 77 Sahwa, 54
peshmerga, and 229 civilians. The main reason why there were more fatalities
was the discovery of three
mass graves in northeast Diyala with approximately 250 bodies in them. That
meant that province had the most dead with 271. After that 103 were killed in
Baghdad, 50 in Anbar, 45 in Kirkuk, 41 in Salahaddin, 32 in Babil, 14 in
Ninewa, and two in Basra. In total, from January 1 to December 28 Musings On
Iraq counted 10,117 security incidents, 24,464 dead, and 37,360 wounded.

Violence In Iraq By Week 2014

Date

Incidents

Dead

Wounded

Jan 1-7

244

363

733

Jan 8-14

272

364

676

Jan 15-21

205

358

616

Jan 22-28

236

305

618

Jan 29-31

57

93

237

JAN

1,014

1,483

2,890

Feb 1-7

211

306

706

Feb 8-14

229

258

505

Feb 15-21

264

347

703

Feb 22-28

251

374

617

FEB

955

1,285

2,531

Mar 1-7

252

412

702

Mar 8-14

205

323

610

Mar 15-21

216

423

736

Mar 22-27

211

279

580

Mar 28-31

108

169

261

MAR

992

1,606

2,889

Apr 1-7

238

259

550

Apr 8-14

224

362

646

Apr 15-21

241

406

805

Apr 22-28

226

347

744

Apr 29-30

61

82

179

APR

990

1,456

2,924

May 1-7

198

246

483

May 8-14

257

466

752

May 15-21

183

256

426

May 22-28

203

403

810

May 29-31

64

91

131

MAY

905

1,462

2,602

Jun 1-7

228

612

1,020

Jun 8-14

234

1,889

890

Jun 15-21

179

803

759

Jun 22-28

203

733

777

Jun 29-30

59

127

236

JUN

901

4,172

3,701

Jul 1-7

203

526

651

Jul 8-14

214

577

628

Jul 15-21

230

444

1,009

Jul 22-28

224

589

801

Jul 29-31

66

163

230

JUL

937

2,299

3,319

Aug 1-8

269

1,122

885

Aug 9-14

179

710

1,152

Aug 15-21

150

354

499

Aug 22-28

156

523

798

Aug 29-31

59

125

289

AUG

813

2,834

3,623

Sep 1-7

168

616

751

Sep 8-14

156

433

722

Sep 15-21

166

620

749

Sep 22-28

153

395

573

Sep 29-30

47

112

252

SEP

690

2,176

3,047

Oct 1-7

170

451

687

Oct 8-14

188

532

875

Oct 15-21

156

449

770

Oct 22-28

159

345

592 + 1,230

Oct 29-31

68

570

227

OCT

741

2,347

3,151 + 1,230

Nov 1-7

153

601

828

Nov 8-14

128

420

593

Nov 15-21

134

283

464

Nov 22-28

138

321

640

Nov 29-30

40

62

123

NOV

593

1,687

2,648

Dec 1-7

137

323

476

Dec 8-14

156

233 + 166

444 + 1,113

Dec 15-21

133

377

340

Dec 22-28

160

558

432

2014

10,117

24,464

37,360

Violence In Iraq By Province Dec
2014

Province

Dec 1-7

Dec. 8-14

Anbar

19
Incidents

84
Killed: 16 ISF, 68 Civilians

58
Wounded: 6 ISF, 52 Civilians

11
Shootings

1 IED

38
Incidents

79
Killed: 28 ISF, 51 Civilians

146
Wounded: 28 ISF, 118 Civilians

22
Shootings

1 IED

3 Mortar

5 Suicide
Car Bombs

1 Car
Bomb

Babil

5
Incidents

6 Killed:
2 ISF, 4 Civilians

20
Wounded: 4 ISF, 16 Civilians

4 IEDs

1 Car
Bomb

2
Incidents

3 Killed:
1 ISF, 2 Civilians

10
Wounded: 2 ISF, 8 Civilians

2 IEDs

Baghdad

44
Incidents

97
Killed: 97 Civilians

262
Wounded: 7 ISF, 255 Civilians

11
Shootings

25 IEDs

1 Mortar

5 Sticky
Bombs

2 Car
Bombs

38
Incidents

49
Killed: 2 ISF, 47 Civilians

135
Wounded: 16 ISF, 119 Civilians

11
Shootings

18 IEDs

4 Stick
Bombs

1 Mortar

3 Rockets

Basra

1
Incident

2 Stun
Bombs

1
Incident

Diyala

8
Incidents

8 Killed:
2 Peshmerga, 6 Civilians

10
Wounded: 6 ISF, 4 Civilians

6
Shootings

2 IEDs

18
Incidents

18
Killed: 3 ISF, 1 Sahwa, 1 Peshmerga, 13 Civilians

28
Wounded: 1 ISF, 2 Peshmerga, 25 Civilians

6
Shootings

1 IED

1 Suicide
Bomber

3 Mortar

Kirkuk

6
Incidents

18
Killed: 18 Civilians

22
Wounded: 22 Civilians

1
Shooting

3 Mortar

1 Suicide
Car Bomb

9
Incidents

7 Killed:
7 Civilians

12
Wounded: 12 Civilians

3 Shootings

50 IEDs

1 Sticky
Bomb

1 Mortar

Ninewa

13
Incidents

15
Killed: 1 ISF, 4 Peshmerga, 10 Civilians

6
Shootings

6 IEDs

8
Incidents

7 Killed:
2 ISF, 5 Civilians

5
Wounded: 1 Peshmerga, 4 Civilians

3
Shootings

4 IEDs

Salahaddin

41
Incidents

95
Killed: 22 ISF, 1 Sahwa, 72 Civilians

104
Wounded: 4 ISF, 100 Civilians

24
Shootings

31 IEDs

3 Mortar

1 Suicide
Bomber

1 Suicide
Car Bomb

40
Incidents

69
Killed: 20 ISF, 49 Civilians

104
Wounded: 25 ISF, 79 Civilians

18
Shootings

11 IEDs

10 Mortar

3 Rockets

2 Suicide
Car Bombs

Province

Dec 15-21

Dec 22-28

Anbar

22
Incidents

38
Killed: 5 ISF, 33 Civilians

28
Wounded: 5 ISF, 23 Civilians

18
Shootings

32
Incidents

50
Killed: 8 ISF, 42 Civilians

57
Wounded: 10 ISF, 3 Sahwa, 44 Civilians

26
Shootings

1 Suicide
Car Bomb

1 Mortar

Babil

8
Incidents

22
Killed: 22 Civilians

27
Wounded: 2 ISF, 25 Civilians

2
Shootings

3 IEDs

1 Sticky
Bomb

1 Car Bomb

1 Mortar

8
Incidents

32
Killed: 3 Sahwa, 29 Civilians

25
Wounded: 3 ISF, 22 Civilians

3
Shootings

3 IEDs

2 Car
Bombs

Baghdad

51
Incidents

159
Killed: 8 ISF, 151 Civilians

192
Wounded: 18 ISF, 174 Civilians

14
Shootings

24 IEDs

5 Sticky
Bombs

1 Car
Bomb

2 Mortar

1 Rocket

1 Grenade

46
Incidents

103
Killed: 19 ISF, 40 Sahwa, 44 Civilians

192
Wounded: 18 ISF, 70 Sahwa, 104 Civilians

13
Shootings

21 IEDs

7 Sticky
Bombs

1 Suicide
Bomber

1 Mortar

Basra

1
Incident

1
Wounded: 1 Civilian

1
Shooting

3
Incidents

2 Killed:
2 Civilians

2
Shootings

Diyala

10
Incidents

12
Killed: 3 ISF, 9 Civilians

18
Wounded: 1 ISF, 17 Civilians

6 Shootings

2 IEDs

3 Mortar

13
Incidents

271
Killed: 3 ISF, 12 Peshmerga, 256 Civilians

24
Wounded: 1 ISF, 2 Peshmerga, 21 Civilians

5
Shootings

2 IEDs

6 Mortar

Kirkuk

3
Incidents

1 Killed:
1 Civilian

1 IED

6
Incidents

45
Killed: 45 Civilians

2
Wounded: 2 Civilians

3
Shootings

2 IEDs

1 Rocket

Ninewa

7
Incidents

77
Killed: 77 Civilians

24
Wounded: 24 Peshmerga

5
Shootings

3 IEDs

1 Car
Bomb

18
Incidents

14
Killed: 5 Peshmerga, 2 YPG, 7 Civilians

52
Wounded: 52 Peshmerga

11
Shootings

9 IEDs

Qadisiyah

-

1 Incident

1 Sound
Bomb

Salahaddin

31
Incidents

68
Killed: 4 ISF, 64 Civilians

50
Wounded: 6 ISF, 44 Civilians

19
Shootings

63 IEDs

1 Suicide
Bomber

1 Suicide
Car Bomb

1 Mortar

34
Incidents

41
Killed: 10 ISF, 2 Sahwa, 29 Civilians

80
Wounded: 40 ISF, 4 Sahwa, 36 Civilians

12
Shootings

39 IEDs

1 Suicide
Truck Bomb

6 Mortar

1 Rocket

Car Bomb Attacks In Iraq Dec 2014

Date

Location

Dead

Wounded

Dec 1

Dec 2

Mahmudiya, Babil

1

Dec 3

Dec 4

Shaab & Sadr City, Baghdad

Shorja, Kirkuk

39

97

Dec 5

Dec 6

Dec 7

Salman, Salahaddin

9

17

1st Wk Totals

5

48

115

Dec 8

Dec 9

Nikhaib, Anbar

Dec 10

Ramadi, Anbar

Dijla & Mutasim, Salahaddin

11

22

Dec 11

Ramadi, Anbar

2

4

Dec 12

Dec 13

Haditha & Ramadi, Anbar

15

33

Dec 14

2nd Wk Totals

7

28

59

Dec 15

Dec 16

Dec 17

Dec 18

Mahmuidya, Babil

Husseiniya, Baghdad

10

25

Dec 19

Samarra, Salahaddin

2

5

Dec 20

Dec 21

Makhmour, Ninewa

4

3rd Wk Totals

4

12

34

Dec 22

Dec 23

Yusifiya, Babil

Dhuluiya, Salahaddin

3

6

Dec 24

Dec 25

Dec 26

Dec 27

Outside Baghdadi, Anbar

Dec 28

Iskandiriya, Babil

4th Wk Totals

4

3

6

Like the previous week there were only four vehicle borne
improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) from December 22-28. There were two in
Babil, and one each in Anbar and Salahaddin. Those resulted in three dead and
six wounded, but the actual numbers were much higher as no casualties were
reported for the December 28 bombing in Iskandiriya. The two attacks in Babil
were terrorist ones, but the other two were part of military operations against
the ISF and militias. So far, there have only been 20 VBIEDs this month. That
means December looks like it will end with the fewest number of car bombs in a
single month since October 2012 when there were just 23.

Anbar continued to be one of the most violent areas of the
country. The Islamic State (IS) remained focused upon taking Baghdadi and the
neighboring Assad Air Base, Haditha and its dam, and the provincial capital of
Ramadi. IS has brought in tanks
and other armored vehicles, plus several hundred reinforcements
from Syria in its assault upon Baghdadi and Assad. In Ramadi
insurgents made more thrusts at the downtown government complex, the Anbar
Operations Command headquarters, and the 8th Army Brigade base.
Coalition air strikes have played a large role in blunting many of these
attacks. IS was said to have suddenly withdrew from Qaim on December 22, while the ISF pulled out
of 14 villages they had just taken in the Baghdadi area on December
27. The pro-government forces are still trying to clear towns around Hit
in part of an offensive that started two weeks ago, and that has made very
limited progress. This was also meant to relieve pressure on Baghdadi. December
25 the ISF claimed it had made major gains in Ramadi retaking Howaz,
Andolus, Jamouri, Mualimin, and 20th Street. These have been
contested areas since January, and have traded hands many times. Finally, on December 22
a mass grave was found in Amiriya Fallujah with 20 people in it executed by IS.
Despite the concerted efforts of the insurgents they have made no real progress
in Anbar lately. At the same time up to 85% of the province is under their
control, and no real help appears to be coming from Baghdad, which has written
off the province for other areas of the country.

In Diyala there is continued controversy over the Jalawla
and Sadiya areas that were cleared by the Peshmerga and militias several weeks
ago, along with renewed IS attacks upon the center of the province. Local
leaders told Al Mada that Jalawla was a disaster
area. Mosques and shops have been blown up and destroyed by both pro and
anti-government forces. Local Arabs have had their homes destroyed to try to
stop them from returning. A local sheikh blamed the Kurds for trying to stop
people from returning to the town on the grounds that they supported the
insurgents. In Jalawla and Sadiya three
mass graves were also discovered on December 24 with 250 bodies of people
executed by the Islamic State. Diyala’s governor warned
of the deteriorating security situation in Muqtadiya. He said the northern
section of the district was under insurgent control. For the last several weeks
they have been hitting the area with mortar fire, which caused more than 60
families to flee.
For the week Muqtadiya was hit six times by mortars killing three and wounding
19. Badr Organization head Hadi
Ameri told locals that they should leave because Muqtadiya was going to be
the next target of a security sweep. Violence in the province is not as bad as
it was at the start of the year, but it remains a major base for insurgents. It
has lost ground in the northeast to the Kurds and militias, but places like the
Hamrin Mountains are an insurgent stronghold despite several operations there.
That has allowed them to carry out attacks like those on going in Mutaqadiya.

During the week the peshmerga continued to make progress in
the Sinjar district of Ninewa. They broke the siege of Mount Sinjar last week
and moved into Sinjar itself. IS has been attacking the surrounding areas like Gwar
and Makhmour
to draw Kurdish forces away, but they have not been successful. On December
24 a peshmerga commander said that 30% of Sinjar had been cleared. These
moves have caused concern
that an offensive against Mosul is imminent. Reports have said that is causing
foreign fighters to leave the city, and locals are hoarding supplies.

In Salahaddin the ISF and militias made big gains in the
southern part of the province. That was part of an offensive in the Balad
district that started at the end of the third week of December. On December
22 two towns near Dhuluiya, and Albu
Handal near Aziz were cleared. That was followed by two parts
of Yathrib and Dhuluiya
Bridge on December 25, one town in Dhuluiya, and two in Yathrib the next day, and then
Al-Atheem River and Albu Salabi in Diyala neighboring Dhuluiya, Dhuluiya
airport, Rosasi
River, and ten more villages the next day. Finally, on December
28 two more sections of Aziz were freed, along with four more areas of Dhuluiya. Securing the Balad district
is important to ensure communication and supply lines between central
Salahaddin and Baghdad. The Dhuluiya area has also been under siege since the
summer and is in desperate need of relief. The government has finally decided
to address this area.

SOURCES

AIN, “2 areas within Dhilo’aya district liberated from
ISIL,” 12/22/14

- “Peshmerga control new areas western Mosul,” 12/28/14

- “Security forces liberate 5 areas in Anbar,” 12/25/14

Alsumaria, "Peshmerga repel Daash attack on two
villages south of Irbil, killing 33 of its gunmen," 12/28/14

- “Source: tactical withdrawal of the army from 14 villages
west of Ramadi,” 12/27/14

Iraq History Timeline

About Me

Musings On Iraq was started in 2008 to explain the political, economic, security and cultural situation in Iraq via original articles and interviews. I have written for the Jamestown Foundation, Tom Ricks’ Best Defense at Foreign Policy and the Daily Beast, and was responsible for a chapter in the book Volatile Landscape: Iraq And Its Insurgent Movements. My work has been published in Iraq via NRT, AK News, Al-Mada, Sotaliraq, All Iraq News, and Ur News all in Iraq. I was interviewed on BBC Radio 5, Radio Sputnik, CCTV and TRT World News TV, and have appeared in CNN, the Christian Science Monitor, The National, Columbia Journalism Review, Mother Jones, PBS’ Frontline, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Institute for the Study of War, Radio Free Iraq, Rudaw, and others. I have also been cited in Iraq From war To A New Authoritarianism by Toby Dodge, Imagining the Nation Nationalism, Sectarianism and Socio-Political Conflict in Iraq by Harith al-Qarawee, ISIS Inside the Army of Terror by Michael Weiss and Hassan Hassahn, The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cocburn, and others. If you wish to contact me personally my email is: motown67@aol.com